Person Page - 69

     Elisha ABNER, son of Abner ABNEY and Anne Key, was born circa 1741 in Fluvanna County, Virginia.

Elisha ABNER He was born in Virginia and migrated to North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and eventually settled in Kentucky. He was the father of 14 children.

Elisha ABNER was named an heir in the will of Abner ABNEY dated 25 September 1751 in Albemarle County, Virginia.¹

Elisha married first Nancy Calloway circa 1773 in Virginia.

Elisha ABNER appeared as head of household on a state census enumerated between 1784 and 1787 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The household was listed as 1 male 21-60 [Elisha], 3 males under 21 or over 60, and 5 females.

Elisha ABNER appeared on the 1790 Federal Census of Greenville County, South Carolina, Elisha Abner, 4 males under 10, 2 males age 16 or older, and 5 females.

Elisha married second Susannah Sumter circa 1793.

Elisha ABNER was included on a tax list in 1796 in Carter County, Tennessee. He was taxed for 205 acres of land.

Elisha ABNER appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Clay County, Kentucky, 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 45 or older, 1 female under 10, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45 or older.

Elisha ABNER died in 1817 in Butler County, Kentucky.²

     Milly ABNEY, daughter of Abner ABNEY and Anne Key, was born circa 1743 in Virginia.

Milly ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Abner ABNEY dated 25 September 1751 in Albemarle County, Virginia.¹

Milly ABNEY died in 1837.

     John BERNARD Jr., son of John BERNARD Sr. and Mary ABNEY, was born in 1736 in Virginia.

     Elizabeth BERNARD was carried away by Indians when she was a child in Virginia.

     Abner BERNARD, son of John BERNARD Sr. and Mary ABNEY, was born in 1738 in Albermarle County, Virginia.¹

     Robert Rutherford ABNEY was born on 28 August 1810 in Maury County, Tennessee, son of Paul Collins ABNEY and Dorothy "Dolly" RUTHERFORD. His middle name is sometimes mispelled Releford.^1,2,3 He was a farmer.

Robert moved to Warren County, Mississippi in 1819 with his parents. About 1828 he settled in Hinds County, Mississippi in an area called Champion Hill where he married. The farm was heavily damaged during the Battle of Champion Hill fought May 1863 as part of the Vicksburg campaign.

Robert married Mary Ann ROBERTS on 14 July 1830 in Hinds County, Mississippi. The marriage produced ten children.^1,4

Robert Rutherford ABNEY and Mary Ann ABNEY moved from Champion Hill, Hinds County, Mississippi to Jasper County, Mississippi, in1836.⁵

In poor health, Robert Rutherford ABNEY and Mary Ann ROBERTS moved from Jasper County, Mississippi to Marion (now Pearl River) County, Mississippi, about 1872. They lived there with their son Henry who was a doctor. Here they remained until their deaths.

Six of his seven sons went off to war and all returned home. William Washington and three of his brothers stayed in the county and the other three moved on.^5,6

Robert Rutherford ABNEY died on 25 September 1875 in Marion (now Pearl River) County, Mississippi, at age 65.² He was buried in Byrd's Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

     Jesse Mercier ABNEY, son of Robert Rutherford ABNEY and Mary Ann ROBERTS, was born on 7 November 1834 in Hinds County, Mississippi.¹ He moved with his parents from Champion Hill, Hinds County, Mississippi to Jasper County, Mississippi, in1836.¹ He was educated in the common schools in Jasper County, Texas. He later taught school in the county.

Jesse began military service in 1861 in Jasper County, Mississippi, when he enlisted as 1st Lieutenant in Company F of the 12th Mississippi Cavalry and served until the end of the war.¹

Jesse married Sarah CROSBY on 16 January 1862 in Jasper County, Mississippi. She was the daughter of John and Nancy (Crain) Crosby.^2,1

Jesse Mercier ABNEY and Sarah ABNEY moved from Jasper county to Marion County, Mississippi, in1866 where he took up stock raising as his occupation.¹

Jesse Mercier ABNEY and Sarah CROSBY moved from Marion County, Mississippi to Claiborne Station, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, in December 1876. He became a prosperous stockraiser, raising mostly sheep. At one time he had over 4000 sheep on his ranch which was located near Covington.¹

Jesse Mercier ABNEY died on 28 May 1911 in Louisiana at age 76.³ He was buried in Covington Cemetery, Covington, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.³

     Sarah CROSBY was born on 14 November 1842 in Jasper County, Mississippi.

Sarah married Jesse Mercier ABNEY, son of Robert Rutherford ABNEY and Mary Ann ROBERTS, on 16 January 1862 in Jasper County, Mississippi. She was the daughter of John and Nancy (Crain) Crosby.^1,2

Sarah ABNEY and Jesse Mercier ABNEY moved from Jasper county to Marion County, Mississippi, 1866 where he took up stock raising as his occupation.²

Sarah CROSBY and Jesse Mercier ABNEY moved from Marion County, Mississippi to Claiborne Station, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, in December 1876. He became a prosperous stockraiser, raising mostly sheep. At one time he had over 4000 sheep on his ranch which was located near Covington.²

Sarah CROSBY died on 24 August 1890 in Louisiana at age 47.² She was buried in Covington Cemetery, Covington, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.³

     Abney MAYS, son of Mattox MAYS and Dorcas ABNEY, was born in 1758 in Prince Edward County, Virginia.

Abney and his brother Samuel MAYS fought in the Revolutonary War as privates in the 2nd Spartan Regiment, formerly known as the Upper Saluda District Militia. They were at Hanging Rock, Musgrove Mill, and Black Stocks under Gen. Thomas Sumter, the "Gamecock." After the British Garrison was defeated at Ninety-Six Samuel Mays was one of twenty men thanked by Congress for bravery and was offered a commission as was his brother, Abney.¹

A land deed shows that Abney gained possession of three hundred and fourteen acres of land located in the district of Ninety-six on the Pen branch of the Saluda River on December 8, 1785. There is a second land deed dated August 6, 1785 that conveys a further three hundred and seventy acres of land of him in the same area. His own lands and the lands of William Hill bordered this land. On August 25, 1787 Abner (I) Mays of Edgefield County, SC sold to David Liles, a planter, for the sum of 50 pounds, ninety acres of land. This land was part of Six hundred seventy-three acres, which had been granted to him June 5, 1786 on Halfway Swamp, waters of the Saluda River bounded by lands of William Hill, NW, Philemon Bozeman, SE, Reuben Holloway, SW, vacant on the south.²

Abney MAYS died on 4 February 1804 in Cambridge, Greenwood County, South Carolina.³

Abney left a will dated 5 February 1804 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Lists his heirs as his children: William, Gardiner, John, Abney Jr., Matthew, Meady, James, Henry, Elizabeth (Whitley), Sally (Hill), Tabitha (Carter), Nancy (Broadway). His brothers Samuel Mays, Dannett Hill and son William were executors.⁴

     Daniel HOLT, son of Abiel HOLT Jr. and Elizabeth HOWARD, was born on 6 November 1803 in Temple, New Hampshire.¹ He was employed in Daniel Pratt's gin shop.

Daniel married Eliza PRATT circa 1828 in New Hampshire. Eliza was the sister of Daniel Pratt, founder of Prattville.

Daniel HOLT died on 19 December 1870 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 67.² He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama.

     Eliza PRATT was born on 18 May 1808 in New Hampshire.

Eliza married Daniel HOLT, son of Abiel HOLT Jr. and Elizabeth HOWARD, circa 1828 in New Hampshire. Eliza was the sister of Daniel Pratt, founder of Prattville.

Eliza PRATT died on 18 May 1889 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 81.^1,2 She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama.²

     Ella Floy HICKS was born on 31 January 1861 in Georgia.¹

Ella married Daniel Edward HOLT, son of Daniel HOLT and Eliza PRATT, on 4 November 1884 in Autauga County, Alabama.²

Ella Floy HICKS and Daniel Edward HOLT moved from Prattville to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1891.

Ella Floy HICKS and Daniel Edward HOLT were listed in the 1897 city directory for Montgomery, Alabama. They were recorded as Daniel E. Holt (Mrs. Ella F.), collector, residence at 637 S. Lawrence Street.³

Ella Floy HICKS and Daniel Edward HOLT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1900 in Montgomery, Alabama. The household was listed as Dave Holt, a 55-year-old carpenter, born Nov 1844 in New Hampshire, and his wife, Ella Holt, age 39, born Jan 1861 in Georgia. They were married 29 years and Ella was mother of four, only two living. Also in the household were son, Dave B., age 26, born Aug. 1878, a train dispatcher; daughter, Lillie E., age 12, born Sept. 1887, at school; and daughter, Virginia P., age 11, born Dec. 1888, at school. They owned their home via mortgage at 62 Jeff Davis Avenue.⁴

Ella Floy HICKS and Daniel Edward HOLT were listed in the 1903 city directory for Montgomery, Alabama. They were listed as D. Edward Holt (Ella F.), collector, home 123 Madison Avenue.⁵

Ella Floy HICKS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 2 January 1920 in Hapeville, Fulton County, Georgia. The household was listed as Ella F. Holt, 58, widow, born Georgia; daughter, Eugnia P. Holt, 25, single, stenographer for railroad company; daughter, Lillie H. Sullivan, 29, widow, stenographer for machine company; and boarder, Eudora Humphries, 45, single, stenographer for law office. They lived on Fulton Avenue.⁶

Ella Floy HICKS died on 11 December 1932 in Hapeville, Fulton County, Georgia, at age 71. Cause of death was influenza.^1,7 She was buried in Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia.¹